Page 3683 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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However, you and the Chief Minister continue to claim that the cost of a board of inquiry is too high to bear. Minister, what is the cost of poor workplace culture and bullying in the ACT health system?
MS FITZHARRIS: My understanding and recollection of that article is that it was written in the broadest possible terms. Every organisation has a culture. All organisations can strive to improve that culture. That is exactly what we are doing at ACT Health, and working, of course, with our other public hospital and health care providers in the territory to do just that.
MRS DUNNE: Noting that the minister did not answer that question, minister, what are the human costs of a poor workplace culture and bullying in the ACT health system?
MS FITZHARRIS: I note, as evidenced most recently by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards in its report from an independent body, the recognition that there has been a turnaround in workplace culture in ACT Health this year. They reflect repeatedly on the positive workplace culture that they found here when they came in both March and again in August as independent reviewers of ACT Health. That by no means suggests that our work is finished. Indeed, it will continue.
As I announced last week, the ACT government will be establishing an independent review of workplace culture in the delivery of public healthcare services. My intention with that is to ensure that we can learn lessons, that the organisation can heal from some of the more recent public debate about these issues and that those recommendations can inform continued improvement and assurances to the community and to staff about a positive workplace culture in the delivery of public healthcare services for Canberrans.
MR WALL: Minister, how many more staff resignations, poor mental health outcomes, attempted suicides and suicides will it take before you understand the human cost of poor workplace culture and bullying in the ACT health system and take the action of initiating a board of inquiry?
MS FITZHARRIS: As I have indicated before, I do not believe that the issues at hand warrant a board of inquiry, but I have announced an independent review, as well as a series of other changes at ACT Health. Also, I reflected very seriously, unlike those opposite, on the outcomes of the independent verification of ACT Health contained within the very lengthy Australian Council on Healthcare Standards report received by ACT Health in August this year, which accredits ACT Health unconditionally for the maximum period of three years.
Budget—city services
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for City Services. Minister, how has the community been engaged to participate in the city services budgeting process?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Orr for her question and her genuine interest in city services. I was delighted to present the better suburbs statement 2030 earlier today and I would
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